Category: World Football

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Marta won the inaugural FIFA award for the best goal in women’s soccer — named after the Brazil great herself. The 38-year-old was given the Marta Award at FIFA’s “The Best” awards on Tuesday for her goal for Brazil in an international friendly against Jamaica in June. Editor’s Picks Vinícius Jr.,…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions The folks behind the Super League are back. A22 Sports, the company charged with organising an alternative competition to the UEFA tournaments (Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) announced on Tuesday that they had petitioned UEFA to recognize their new cross-border tournament, the “Unify League.” This comes nearly a year…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Marcus Rashford has hinted at a move away from Manchester United by saying he is “ready for a new challenge” after admitting it was “disheartening” to be dropped from manager Ruben Amorim’s squad for Sunday’s derby win against Manchester City. Rashford, 27, and winger Alejandro Garnacho were left out of the…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Barcelona are preparing to open contract talks with Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araújo, while several clubs across Europe are monitoring the situation of Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani. Join us for the latest transfer news, gossip and rumors from around the globe. Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s grades…

EmailPrint Open Extended ReactionsEmma Hayes has been named women’s coach of the year at FIFA’s The Best awards. Karl Bridgeman – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images United States women’s national team head coach Emma Hayes was named women’s coach of the year at the FIFA 2024 The Best awards on Tuesday. It has been another stellar year…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Two-time World Cup winning defender Becky Sauerbrunn, a mainstay with the United States women’s national team for over 15 years, as well as in the NWSL, announced her retirement from professional soccer on Tuesday. She made the announcement via Instagram as well as through the USWNT. “I learned early on that…

EmailPrint Open Extended ReactionsVinícius Júnior won The Best men’s award on Tuesday. Matt McNulty – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior won FIFA’s The Best men’s player of the year award on Tuesday, while Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí was named The Best women’s player of the year for the second time. Vinícius lost out to…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Carlo Ancelotti has said he’s “optimistic” about Kylian Mbappé’s recovery from injury ahead of the Intercontinental Cup final. Editor’s Picks Sources: LaLiga to report Vini gesture at Rayo1dAlex Kirkland and Rodrigo FaezBrazil great Ronaldo eyes federation presidency8hReutersKylian Mbappé in Real Madrid squad for cup final1dAlex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez 2 Related…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Mikel Arteta has said winning the EFL Cup this season can have a transformative effect on Arsenal as they seek to establish themselves as serial trophy winners. Editor’s Picks Dull Everton draw might push Arsenal to make moves in January3dJames OlleyChelsea’s Mudryk in positive drug test, faces ban1hJames OlleyArteta defends ‘tactical’…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Manchester United are set to take steps to help prevent team news leaking out, a source has told ESPN, after Ruben Amorim’s starting XI for Sunday’s Manchester derby was circulated online nearly 24 hours before kick-off. Amorim admitted it’s “not a good thing” when asked about the team news leak following…

EmailPrint Open Extended ReactionsArsenal aren’t the only team benefitting from set piece prowess this season, but they’ve been one of the best. Alex Pantling/Getty Images André Onana, the Manchester United goalkeeper, was preparing to defend against a free kick in a Premier League game last December when he realized someone was behind him. It was Leon…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Manchester United are in advanced negotiations to renew Amad Diallo’s contract, a source confirmed to ESPN. Editor’s Picks Man United’s statement win, Barca look good but lose, more: Marcotti recaps the weekend21hGabriele MarcottiShould Marcus Rashford leave Man United? Here are dropped striker’s options1dMark OgdenMoment of the Weekend: Amad for Amorim –…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Agent Jorge Mendes has said Lamine Yamal will sign a new contract with Barcelona as the forward targets winning the World Cup and the Champions League over the Ballon d’Or. The 17-year-old’s current deal with Barça expires in 2026 but sources explained to ESPN when he signed those terms there was…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Super League promotor A22 Sports said on Tuesday that it had submitted a proposal to UEFA and FIFA, asking football’s governing bodies to formally recognise its right to organise a new European competition. The move follows a ruling by the European Court of Justice in December 2023 — after the Super…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions CARY, N.C. — Maximilian Kissel scored in a sudden-death overtime to help Vermont beat Marshall 2-1 on Monday night for the program’s first national championship. It was the ninth championship game decided by overtime or penalty kicks in the 21st century. Vermont (16-2-6) became the first squad in school history to…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions FIFPro is calling for mandatory four-week off-season breaks and two-week in-season breaks to safeguard players from the risks of overload following a new study into the fragmented football calendar, as some players are participating in nearly double the average number of matches. The players union’s new study, entitled “From High-Usage to…

EmailPrint Rodrigo Bentancur must serve his seven-game ban for comments he made about teammate Son Heung-Min. Visionhaus/Getty Images The Football Association have dismissed Tottenham’s appeal against Rodrigo Bentancur’s seven-game suspension for using racist language in a television interview. Bentancur has already served five matches of the seven-game sanction and will now be out for Thursday’s Carabao…

EmailPrint Open Extended ReactionsEdoardo Bove has said he is keen to return to football following his on-pitch collapse in Serie A. Image Photo Agency/Getty Images Fiorentina midfielder Edoardo Bove has thanked fans and said he is doing “fine” following his collapse during a Serie A match on Dec. 1. Bove, 22, was discharged from a hospital…

EmailPrint Open Extended ReactionsChelsea have confirmed that the FA have been in contact over an adverse urine sample from Mykhailo Mudryk. Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk has said he is shocked after being notified of a positive drugs test by the Football Association. Reports in Ukraine suggest a prohibited substance was found…

EmailPrint Open Extended Reactions Barcelona are smack bang in the middle of the type of crisis that 99% of Europe’s football clubs wish they had, too: Top of LaLiga, second in the Champions League, powered by 17-year-old Lamine Yamal (a genius who’s already on his way to Ballon d’Or status and is out-achieving Lionel Messi…